Cotton picking mechanism



J. BARDWELL ET AL COTTON PICKINGMECHANISM Dec. 8, 1931.

Filed March 28, 1930 m N I I I -----W mmm =1 mw wmv m w m DM W mwi y!!! I n 2%.? =55... ELEM Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH BARD WELL AND HARRIS G. PROUTY, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS oo'r'roN rroxme MECHANISM Application filed March 28, 1930. Serial No. 439,647.

-Our invention relates to cotton picking mechanisms and particularly to picker mechanisms for incorporation in cotton harvesting machines and the object of our invention is to provide improved picker mechanism of this class. 'More especially, our invention has for its object to provide improved picker mechanism for incorporation in a cotton harvesting machine such as is illustrated and described in our co-pending application Serial No. 399,848 filed October 15, 1929.

To these ends We have provided a. picker mechanism for harvesting cotton, said mechanism having the peculiar features of construction and mode of operation set forth in the following description, the several novel features of our invention being particularly pointed out and defined separately in the claims at the close thereof.

In'the accompanying drawings:

1 Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, of a picker mechanism constructed in accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1'. V

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1i i V Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1. I

' Figure'5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 1.

' Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 1. v v v Figure 7 is a detailhereinafter descrlbed.

p when their carrier frame is moved toward the row of plants said stems are projected into the latter and then rotated in one direction to cause the barbs of the stems to engage the bolls of-cotton after which the carrier frame is moved away from the row of plants withdrawing the picker stems from the latter. ,When the carrier frame reaches the limit of its movement away from the plants the stems are rotated in the opposite direction to free the picked cotton from the barbs thereof.

In the accompanying drawings 48a and 48b illustrate two cross-bars which may constitute part of the movable picker carrier frame referred to above, said bars corresponding with one of the pairs of bars (48), of the machine illustrated and described in our said co-pending application.

Each picker element of our improved picker mechanism comprises a spindle 1 which is rotatably supported adjacent its rear end by a metal bushing 2 and a short sleeve 3.

The metal bushing 2 is fixed within an aperture provided through a strip of stifiiy elastic rubber 4 fastened by rivets 5 to a relatively thin supplemental bar or rail 6 slidably supported in position against the inner side of the cross-bar 486. I

The sleeve 3 constitutes the rear end portion of a doffer-sheath 7 which as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is arcuate in cross section and disposed parallel with, and close to, the spindle 1.

The spindle 1 is made from a length of round bar stock in which is formed a spiral groove 8 extending through a portion of the length of the spindle that is opposite the dofi'er-sheath bar 7. Then the spindle 1 is cut away or recessed as at 9 and 10 so that only semi-circular portions of originally spiral groove 8 remain in the spindle 1. Then a barb 11 is fixed within each semiconvolution of the groove 8 as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. I

At its forward end the dofier-sheath bar 7 is made with a split ring 12 that is rotatably mounted within an annular groove provided upon the forward end portion of the spindle 1. Also about midway of the length of the doffer-sheath bar 7 a similar split ring 13 is as shown in Figs. land 6. Thus it ispos-V sible for the sleeve and spindle to rotate rela tively' to-the extentof one haltof a Team:

tion or one hundred and eighty degrees.v

Alongside of the slot 14: the sleeve portion 3 of the dofier-sheath is made with-twozfiat peripheral surfaces 16 and'17, Figs. 1 and 3, t'o co operate with a leaf. spring "18 fastened by screws to the crossbar 48a; Normally the'nspring' 181s in engagement with the flat 7 surface 16' and holds the: doffer-sheath-ibar-7 opposite the free pointed ends of-tliebarbs 11 as shown in Eignt V 'Whemthepicker stem is to he moved endwise forwardinto the plants the parts thereof occupy the positionsshown in the drawings and' they retain these positions until each picker-stem reaches the limitiofflits forward movement; lln the illustratedembodiment of ou'rqinvent ion these stemsare moved endw-ise t-oward the leftto; proj'ect the same into the-plants of therow. Y When-the picker stems reach the limit their movement toward or into the plant's, eaohspindle? 1: is rotatedain the direction of thesarnow, Fig: -1 ,;to the extent; ofone revolution.- During itlrefirsthalf of this revolution of? each spindle -li its sleeve 3 and dofiersheath bar 7 are held againstturningwith the spin'dle'by the spring18 sothat at; the completion ofthe first-half: of the :revolution ofspindl'e l-thedofier-tzheath bar 7 is at one sidesof theispindleeandaithe pointed endsrof the barbs-11 are unsheathed" and at the op posite side of thespindle. It will therefore be" clear that during? the last half: of the revolution of: the spindle'l the baths 1 1 will engage "the cotton otthe. bolls and wrap: the

same more: or less: about. the picker stem;

The partsof each picker stem remainin their cotton-engaging: positions until each picker stem hasbeen: moved" :backwe'n'dwise to the limit of its movement ,awayfrom-the I oot'ton; plants whereupon each spindle 1: is

rotated inthe opposite direction: to the extent otone complete revolution; 7 1 1 Atthe start ofr this reverse.motion oit the spindle lathe spring lti'isin engagement with the =flat surface -17 and therefore-sleeve '3 andba-r. 7 are held-.stationany by said-spring 18 during the first yhali of, the backward revolution of-Jspindl'e 1: so thatwas the barbs 1.;1'; passinto wposit-ion: underthedofier-sheath' bar '1- the cotton: is pushechoth fIOHlrtllG'dJflIbS bysaid -bar 1 after which the spindle-1' completes the last half! of :its hackwardz revolu; tiomwhi'chrestores:theparts to their original automatically moves the same endwise in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 1, a distance suflicient' to impart one 'IGVOllltlOIl 1n the direction ofthe arrow to each spindle 1 when the latter reaches the limit of its movement ,toward and into the plants and which'also automatically moves the rack 20 in the 'direc tion of: the arrow 6 Fig; 1,. adistancesulficient to rotate each" spindle-in areverse'direction tothe extent of one revolutioni when said; spindle reaches the limit ot its 111037.8- ment awayfromthe'p-lants.

:Oneof the-f features of the: present invention consists in connecting the rear end-f each sleeve 3 with the'har- 48a by a. balland socket joint 21 so that said sleeve canswing universally on said jointQl, and also rotate. AclS-O each: pinion: '19 is 7 associated; with -the rack so as to permit of substantial-uni versal' swinging,movement-of the sleeve 3: on the'ball; and-socket joint 21 V Normally the rubbenstrip' 1 with. its .bushing;2 holds eachespindle 1 with its axis peripendicular with-relation to the: cross bars 18w and 48b. Y H

It. will; therefore be clear that it the' for ward end of avpicker stem strikesagainsta sturdy boughoii the-plant itv-Inay be deflected thereby sidewise in any direction saidlbough operating toiswingthe.free end of thepicker stem; laterally on the ball and socket-j oint21 so that said stem will pass at one side offthe bough thusnavoiding. injury to the picker stem. When the forward end oftlie picker stem is thus deflected laterally ill-10116 .direction or another, the rubber strip 4 which supports the rear, end v :of. the spindle will yield to permit the movement of the spindle on: the. ball and; socket joint '21. When the picker stem is withdrawn from the plants the; rubber strip 4. will,r.esume its normal condition andrestore'the picker stem toipe'r v pendicular. relationship withwthe cross-bars 8a and 486; ,:A s,.shown=in the-upper part of tithe balliand so'eketloj oint '21 comprises a ball22 that is formediuponrthe rear Tend'of the sleeve 3., said ball bei'ngiheldi within socket 23 -.provided in cross-bar; 18albycmeans of a ring retainer '24 fastened" by screws'to said cross-ban. I i a Another feature of'the present invention consists in Amountingfthe supplemental bar 6 "on: the cross-bar 4811 so that it can move endwise thereon and in providing a wrist pin125, Eig. 7,1501" reciproeatingthe supple mental bar Gaeither continuously ior; intenmittentlyat predetermined-intervals.t

, as the picker end portion of the spindle 1 and is As illustrated in Fig. 7 the wrist pin 25 may occupy a transverse slot 26 provided in the supplemental bar 6.

The Wrist pin 25 is illustrated as provided at one end of a shaft 27 mounted upon any convenient part of the frame of the machine and this shaft may be actuated by any convenient and suitable devices except that it is an essential feature that the supplemental bar 6 is reciprocated as described during the time that the picker stems are moved endwise forward into the cotton plants. Thus stems are moved forward into the plantsleach is vibrated laterally on its ball and socket joint 21 which tends to prevent the forward end'thereof from lodging against a bough of the plant.

Another" feature of our present invention in its preferred form consists in providing the forward end of each picker stem with a head or terminal member 28 that is approximately spherical except that it is provided with a shank portion 29 that is pivotally connected with the forward end of the spindle 1 by a universal joint comprising an approximately hemispherical end portion 30 that is movably confined within the outer end of a chamber 31 by means of an inturned flange 32 provided at the forward end of a sleeve 33. This sleeve 33 constitutes the forward fixed rigidly to the latter by means of a pin or rivet 34. Sleeve 33 provides the chamber 31 within which is slidably mounted a cylindrical follower 35 that is yieldingly but firmly forced against the inner flat side of the hemispherical portion 30 of shank 29 by means of a spring 36 arranged within the chamber 31.

It will thus be clear that the spring 36 acts through the follower 35 to yieldingly hold the hemispherical end portion 30 of shank 29 against the inturned flange 32 so that normally the axis of the end member 28 is maintained coincident and parallel with the axis of the spindle 1.

The end member 28 is provided to serve as a piloting deflector by means of which the forward end of the spindle 1 is directed'laterally in one direction or another around or past a bough or branch of the plant against which it may strike.

Picker stems of the type above described are necessarily made as light and as slim as possible for the reason that a large number thereof are mounted on the picker carrier referred to above, and because of the fact that this carrier is moved back and forth on the main frame of the machine to shift the picker stems into and out of the plants, it is desirable that the weight and inertia of said carrier, and of the stems carried by it, be as little as possible. Therefore, as heretofore constructed, it has frequently happened that stems of this kind would be broken and bent through engagement with heavy boughs or stems of the cotton plants.

The above described construction, how ever, obviates this disadvantage that characterized stems of this type as heretofore 5 constructed and enables the spindles of the latter to be made ofiminimum size since the above described stem construction and mode of operation prevents each stem from lodging endwise against a rigid stem or bough as it is moved. forward into the plants.

In machines of the class shown and described in our co-pending application the picker stems are arranged on their carrier in a cal rows of picker stems, said bank comprising five or six hundred stems. The stems near the top of this bank may,if desired,be made as heretofore for the reason that the upper branches of the plants are frail and pliable and offer no substantial resistance to the picker stem, but it is desirable to employ the above described construction in connection with the picker stems making up the lower portion of the bank since the'boughs and stems near the base of the plan'ts are heavy and sturdy enough to injure or destroy picker stems of the ordinary construe tions heretofore proposed.

lVhat we claim is:

1. A picker stem comprising a barbed spindle provided at its forward free end with a laterally movable piloting member.

2. A picker stem comprising a barbed spindle; a piloting terminal member with the forward free end of said spindle so as to move laterally wit-h respect thereto, and means yieldingly holding said member in axial alinement with said spindle.

bankmade up of. horizontal and verticonnected 1 3. A picker stem comprising a barbed spindle; a piloting terminal member pivotally connected at one end with the forward free end of said spindle so as to swing universally sidewise with respect to said spindle, and

means yieldingly holding said member in axial alinement with said spindle.

4. A picker stem comprising a barbed spindle formed with a chamber adjacent its free end; piloting terminal member made with an enlargement at its inner end that is pivotally confined within said chamber by an inturned flange on said spindle and made with a flat rear surface, and a spring within said chamber between the inner end wall thereof and said fiat surface for yieldingly holding said terminal member in axial alinement with said spindle.

5. A picker stem comprising a. barbed spindle formed with a chamber adjacent its forward free end; a piloting terminal member made with a parti-spherieal enlargement at its inner rear end that is pivotally confined within said chamber by an inturned flange provided at the forward end of said spindle and made with a flat rear surface; a follower slidabliyaimounted wiifihin:saidechamberi'behind said enlargementzand" made withaxflat end sunfhce=toz=engageethewflatrea-n surface of said enlargement;handiazspring within saidohamsbeniw-hinhiaots t hnoughasaid'followen toyieldringly: humus/aid; iterminal member in: axial pal-in ement: withsaid: spindle. I 6."Aupicker;stem-:comprising a barbedispinf dleeformed with a; ohamberadjacent its: forwalfdafreeend s;.-asubstantially sphenical'piloting terminaleniemberrhavin g a shank portion made-m; rits-zwrear, end with. a paliti spherical .enlalgementzthatiis piuotally eonfinediwithin sa idsehamber by an'inturnedxflange provided -.atthegiorwardz.end-:ofisaid spindle,asaid en- I I langementbeing madewvithaflat rearsur'-' ,i. 1 4, :faxze: that? i av penpendioular-lwrith relation to I tlielaxiIs-of 'saidzterminal member';:a follower I .s'lidablfy mounted .within -said chamber behind said 'enlaizgemento. andmade with a: flat end:sunfa'ceaengagingwthe afla-t-marrsurface of said-:1enlargemenfgzandaspning Within'said @1 chamhenthat;acts-,through said follower to .I Q 7 I yieldingly'hold said:substantiallyspherical I I aterm-inalimember inaxial alinement withsaid spindle; I 1A picker stem;comprisingabarbed spin dlesinoludingz as: a part of its forward free end a laterally movable-pilotingterminal r member that is yieldingly heldiin axia'La-lignmen; withdlhe. mainbody'portionof said spin vdlexgza uniyemal joint-why which said spindle I I is supportedznearzits rear endat a predetermined;v distance away from said end, and meanszengagingthe rear end portion of said spindlelionyieldi'ngly opposing movement'of .fihe samewlatepally on: said universal joint in anyytdinection; J I I I Signed by; .us at? Boston, Suffolk. County, I I .Mhssaohnsetts; thisQfith day of March, 1930. JOSEPH BARDXVELLA 7 HARRIS: G. PBO'UTY. 

